The first round of the NFL draft will be on Thursday, April 25. As that approaches, the mock drafts flourish.

The Browns own the sixth pick in the first round. What they've done in free agency has altered what many mock drafts predict will happen with that selection.

Prior to the free agent signings, most mock drafts had the Browns using their first-round pick on players such as defensive end-outside linebackers Dion Jordan of Oregon, Barkevious Mingo of Louisiana State and Ezekiel Ansah of BYU, and Georgia outside linebacker Jarvis Jones.

Those players could be good fits in Cleveland's new defense, likely the 3-4 and variations of it. Maybe one of them will indeed be the guy wearing the Browns baseball cap about an hour into the draft.

Given the circumstances, however, there's a new favorite to be tabbed by the Browns at No. 6: Alabama cornerback Dee Milliner. A Browns starter at the position last season, Sheldon Brown, is a free agent and won't be back, and the team's deep thinkers may regard Chris Owens as a valuable backup.

The thinking among mock drafters is that Milliner, if he's still on the board when it's Cleveland's turn, would team with Joe Haden and give the Browns a pair of potentially elite corners.

Don't count out the Browns going offense with their first-rounder. With a couple defensive issues now addressed, at least in part, through free agency, some mock drafts mention Alabama guard Chance Warmack as a possibility at No. 6. That decision, they feel, would make a pretty good Browns offensive line even better.

Draft Countdown, in its mock draft, has the Browns taking Dee Milliner with the sixth pick.

Heading into the offseason the Browns top priority was finding a pass rusher to team with Jabaal Sheard in their new odd front, which was accomplished with the signing of free agent Paul Kruger. Cleveland will now have some freedom with this choice but Alabama CB Dee Milliner probably makes the most sense. A tough, battle-tested cover guy, Milliner answered concerns about his timed speed by running a sub-4.4 at the Scouting Combine and solidified himself as a Top 10 overall pick. Milliner is universally regarded as the top corner in this class by a significant margin and would fit in perfectly opposite Joe Haden. Another possibility would be Alabama OG Chance Warmack, who might be a slight reach this early but would fortify the middle of their offensive line. The Browns have been linked to West Virginia QB Geno Smith as well so that is something to at least keep an eye on. Don’t rule out trading down either because there could actually be a relatively strong market for this pick, whether it’s somebody coming up for a cornerback (Milliner), an offensive tackle (Central Michigan’s Eric Fisher or Oklahoma’s Lane Johnson) or perhaps even trying to get ahead of both Arizona and Buffalo for a quarterback ( Smith or USC’s Matt Barkley).

Chance Warmack, Alabama guard, will be picked by the Browns at No. 6, according to Drafttek.com.

The Drafttek.com comment:

The Browns have fleshed out their 3-4 defense in Free Agency. Time to give the O-line some love. Chance Warmack will make RB Trent Richardson's job much easier as the most highly-touted OG in many years.

Having added pass-rushers Paul Kruger and Quentin Groves via free agency, the Browns' next biggest weakness is finding a cornerback to play opposite young star Joe Haden. Milliner has the size, speed and physicality to be up to the task.

Dee Milliner becomes a Cleveland Brown on April 25. So says Josh Norris for Rotoworld.

Defensive end-outside linebacker Ezekiel Ansah of BYU is picked by the Browns at No. 6 in the first round, Clark Judge writes for CBSSports.com.

Alabama's Dee Milliner is headed for Cleveland, according to Dane Brugler in his mock draft for CBSSports.com.

Brugler writes:

With the Browns transitioning to a hybrid 3-4 defensive scheme under new coordinator Ray Horton, there is a more-than-good chance that this pick is defense. After signing Paul Kruger in free agency, the Browns might switch their thinking to cornerback with this pick, especially if Milliner is still on the board.

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